Balance

Jack's chemical balance had been restored, so as soon as Jack and Ashmel started trying to understand each other's point of view and stopped trying to score points off each other, everything started to fall into place. They began to trust each other. Jack was able to follow the diet he had been given and his condition improved rapidly.

He began to understand Ashmel's desire to finish her scientific research. She was trying to develop a technique to help Goa'uld hosts to retain control, even when the occupation was forced. It would work on the same principle as the device that had been used on Skaara (and Jack) to allow him take control. However, the effect was to be brought about by a virus that could be release into the air of Goa'uld planets. It would have little effect on the Tok'Ra as they shared control by mutual understanding. Jack was amazed at the potential of such a virus. It would mean that the Goa'uld were finished as rulers of planets, their menace would be reduced to the level of tape-worms!

Surprisingly, Jack had proved extremely helpful to the research. While Ashmel was looking at microscope slides of various carrier viruses, Jack pointed out one strain that seemed different from the rest. It turned out to be the difference that Ashmel had been looking for. Ashmel didn't realise that observation was a vital skill for an undercover operative and that Jack was very skilled. Jacob was surprised at the interest Jack started to show for scientific work, but Jack's only comment was "Ashmel makes it interesting." All the Tok'Ra were amazed at the strong bond that had developed between O'Neill, who they had regarded as very anti-Tok'Ra, and Ashmel, who they knew to be a conservative and reserved individual.

When Ashmel reached a suitable point in her research, she handed the project over to other scientists, whose abilities were better suited than hers to take the work further. Jack had been with her for nearly a month.

It's time for you to go home, Jack.

Can they manage without you in the lab?

You need not be concerned. I have done all I can on that project. Other skills are required now. Don't you want to go back to earth?

Oh yeah, so much. I've missed all the folks so much. First in the medical units and then here. I mean I like it here now and the Tok'Ra have grown on me, but I belong in the SGC.

Then we should go. I will arrange it with the council. I expect Jacob and Selmak would like to visit as well. Jack didn't know if Ashmel meant the journey to earth would be just a visit for them as well. He thought she had been deliberately vague, so he just trusted her.

@~@~@~@~@~@~@

"Off-world activation!"

Everyone jumped to their positions as usual.

"It's the Tok'Ra, Sir"

"Open the iris. It's about time they brought us some news. I hope it the good sort! Call Major Carter, Daniel and Teal'C down here. Good job they're all on base."

Jacob and Jack strode down the ramp.

"Hiya people! Didya miss me?" Immediately Jack was surrounded by well wishers, thumping him on the back and welcoming him home. As General Hammond entered the gate room the group moved back to allow him to walk up to O'Neill.

"Colonel Jack O'Neill reporting, Sir." He snapped to attention. He didn't dare say 'reporting for duty', he didn't know if he was.

"Welcome home, Colonel. It's good to have you back."

Then, Daniel and Teal'C came into the gate room and Daniel was hugging Jack.

"Jack you're looking great!"

"I am please to see you in good health, Oneill."

"It's great to see you guys again. But I notice someone is absent. Is Major Carter on base?"

"She's in her lab, Jack," said Daniel, "I think she was doing some experiment that couldn't be left." O'Neill looked at General Hammond for permission.

"Go, Colonel. Then check in with Dr. Fraiser and be in debriefing room 2 at 1400."

"Daniel, Teal'C, you coming?"

"If you wish, Oneill."

"Sure, we're still a team, aren't we?" Jack wasn't sure that he wanted to be alone the first time Ashmel met Sam. So the four of them went to find Sam. She was in her lab, watching a monitor so intently that she didn't hear them come in. Jack looked over her shoulder.

"Reaction rate of naquadah enriched acids, Major?" Jack asked.

"Colonel, you're back! I hear the 'gate and they called me over the tannoy, but I couldn't leave this, well I would have if I'd have known it was you. You look absolutely terrific. Sir! But how did you know what I was monitoring?"

"It was Ashmel. Ashmel, may I introduce Major Samantha Carter, Dr. Daniel Jackson and Teal'c, my team. Kids, meet Ashmel." It was so strange to see Colonel O'Neill, champion snake-head hater, bow his head in the gesture that told them that the Tok'Ra within him was taking control. And stranger still to hear his voice modified by that Tok'Ra.

"I am so pleased to meet you all at last. Jack is constantly thinking about you and I know that he has missed you all very much. I hope that my presence will not change the relationship that you all have with him, as that would grieve him deeply and I do not wish to distress him."

"I am honoured to meet you," said Teal'c, "I have heard the Tok'Ra speak of you. You are held in high esteem."

Daniel stared at Jack. "Jack, are you truly okay with this?"

Ashmel gave back control. "Yes, Daniel, truly. We've had our rough moments, But everything is fine now. I really think that this is the best thing that could have happened to me. Ashmel and I are getting to understand each other and she's a really nice person - for a scientist and a diplomat!" Ashmel laughed.

"Are you back on SG1, Sir?"

"Well, actually I don't know. Ashmel may be needed by the Tok'Ra. Jacob hasn't mentioned what the Tok'Ra council have decided to do about us. And I haven't had my physical yet. I'm being debriefed at 1400, so I may find out then."

"You don't look like you need a physical, Sir, you look really fit."

"And I feel it, but Doc Fraiser loves to use those needles!"

It took seconds for Dr. Fraiser to tell that Colonel O'Neill was in the best physical shape he had been for years, but reports need evidence, which for Dr. Fraiser meant blood and for Colonel O'Neill meant needles.

"Well, Colonel," She said eventually, "I'll need the blood results and so on for the records, but I'd like to tell you that from what I can see you are A1 fit - for a man of half your age!"

"Ashmel's made a good job of me, I feel 20 years younger and my knee hasn't been this good since I was 16 years old."

"Yet you look the same as you did before your accident."

"We understand that for a human, external appearance is closely associated with their sense of self, so we avoid changing that - even scars, unless our host desires it." Ashmel answering her made Dr. Fraiser jump.

"Hey, you never told me that! The scars I would like to keep, but can we lose some of the grey hair?"

"Lose the hair or lose the grey?"

"Cheeky!"

"I prefer you as you are, it's distinguished."

"Oh, okay. As you were." Dr. Fraiser was astonished at the banter between O'Neill and Ashmel. She realised that they were forming a strong bond.

While Jack had been at his physical, Jacob had brought General Hammond up to date on the problems which had occurred and progress the new pair had made. The briefing took place between Jack, Jacob, their symbiotes and General Hammond.

"Well, Colonel O'Neill, what's the state of play? Do I get my 2IC back or have the Tok'Ra got another liaison officer?"

"I don't think it's my call, General, as I haven't been told anything about it. I was hoping someone would tell me before this, but as things were I didn't want to rock the boat."

"That's never bothered you before, Jack," said Jacob, "Ashmel must be teaching you some manners!" Jack blushed. "I wanted George in on this discussion, so that Ashmel and Selmak can understand the Tau'ri point of view."

"Jack O'Neill is my 2IC, that hasn't changed since the accident - no-one has been appointed to replace him. And he is the best in the field as well. I want him back in SG1, it hasn't been reformed without him."

"The Tok'Ra would like to have a member on the SGC, but we are concerned about Ashmel working on Stargate missions. Originally, we were looking for a politician or diplomat to be host."

"Colonel O'Neill has been most helpful and considerate about my scientific work, I would like to be given the chance to prove that I would not hamper him during off-world missions. I know his worth to the SGC. I would not want to cause them to suffer the loss of his services."

"There's a mission going off in a couple of days time that might prove useful. MALP finding show a planet with a peaceful, pastoral population. No goa'uld signs. It's just a first contact mission. Should only take 6 hours or so. What do you think, Selmak?"

"Let me see the data." Jack knew that Hammond would have checked the data thoroughly. They were in!

So Ashmel joined SG1 for a small mission. They arrived on the planet mid- morning and walked the two miles to the nearest village.

"Why do the 'gates always end up so far from the population?" asked Jack.

"That is knowledge from the ancients that we have not found." Ashmel replied.

As they approached the village a group of villagers came out to greet them, headed by a tall man in red robes. "I am Kranad, headman of Flonda, did you sent us a device through the doorway?"

Daniel was about to start his 'we are peaceful explorers' spiel when Ashmel told Jack to shut him up.

They use a sarcophagus, Jack. They may not act reasonably. Stop Daniel.

"Hey, this place reminds me of P3R 636. Don't you think?"

Carter and Teal'c got the reference immediately but Daniel's memories of Princess Shyla's planet, where he had become addicted to the sarcophagus, was understandably unclear. He tried to speak again.

"Solium habent, Daniel!" Jack shouted, but Ashmel had provided the words.

Latin, from Jack? 'They have a coffin' ? What's he on about? Oh God, they have a sarcophagus, P3R 636.

"Vipera caputs?" Snake heads?

"Non, deo gratias." No, thank god.

"What are you saying?" Kranad didn't look pleased.

"My companion reminds me of my task," said Ashmel using Jack's voice, "We have been sent by the Lord Apophis to ensure that you are still his loyal subjects and so he does not need to send multitudes of his warriors to this place to quell any rebellion. He has not received any communication with you for too long!"

"The Lord Apophis?"

"Do you not serve him? If you do not, we must stay here until his warriors arrive. If you are loyal, we can tell him you are still loyal. He has prepared an army for the rebels he believes have taken over this planet."

"You go then, the others must stay!"

"Only rebels take hostages. We must all return." After much discussion with Ashmel, Kranad at last let SG1 go. They headed back to the 'gate.

"I didn't think he was going to let us go, Jack!"

"He may change his mind. Let's get out of here!" So, as soon as they were out of sight of the village they began to run. Just as Ashmel had suspected, they were soon being chased by Kranad's men. They were armed with staff weapons! Teal'c and Sam turned to return fire as Daniel ran towards the DHD.

"Get Ashmel home, Sir!" shouted Carter.

But Ashmel had other ideas. I'm okay, Jack. Do your job!" So, Jack turned to help slow Kranad's men down. He aimed at Kranad and felled him with the first shot. Good aim!

Jack, over there! Ashmel had used Jack's peripheral vision to spot another group coming through the trees towards them. Using the minimum number of shots, Jack got them all. The next group were a way behind.

"Come on!" They ran to the 'gate. Daniel already had the wormhole engaged. As soon as the rest of SG1 came into view, he sent the code through.

Jack had never been able to speak to anyone while going through a wormhole before. Am I wrong in thinking you enjoyed that?

Yes. 'Enjoy' is not the right word.

Adrenalin rush?

Yes. And seeing you work. You are good.

I think you make me better. I wouldn't have seen that second group. And my aim is not normally THAT accurate. I don't think I wasted a shot, but I don't think I killed anyone.

They were not Goa'uld. They are not the enemy. And they have a sarcophagus.

True.

The walked down the ramp to the SGC.

"Close the iris. I don't think they'll follow, but the natives aren't too friendly."

"Why won't they follow?" asked General Hammond.

"They think Apophis' army is waiting here!"

"Mission a bit of a failure then."

"On the contrary, General Hammond," said Ashmel, "I think that the main objective has been completed most successfully. I would be honoured to be allowed to work with SG1 on off-world missions."

"Colonel O'Neill?"

"Oh, yes, Sir! Ashmel certainly makes a very welcome addition to the team! We've got to get snakes for ALL our people!"

The End

@~@~@~@~@~@~@ AN-Well to be honest, joining with a Tok'Ra doesn't sound too bad!

Just to say this was written after just two episodes of Session 6 were screened in the UK. Any resemblances between this and anything in the later episodes is completely coincidental.

Thanks for giving me your time, especially my reviewers.

EVERYONE WHO READ IT - Let me know what you think. It'll only take a minute.

I'd love feedback to help me for further efforts.

Note :- It really is Latin (but not very good). The benefits of a classical education. I guess I'm a bit older than your average fan fiction author, my daughter introduced me to it! (I won't embarrass her by naming her.)